Paul Di'Anno, the original vocalist of Iron Maiden, has passed away at the age of 66.

The announcement was made today (21st October) by Di'Anno’s record label, Conquest Music, which honoured his remarkable career and called on “his legion of fans to raise a glass in his memory.”

Di'Anno became the frontman of the renowned heavy metal band in 1978 after being introduced by drummer Doug Sampson. He lent his distinctive voice to the band’s seminal early albums, Iron Maiden and Killers.

After departing from Iron Maiden in 1981, Di'Anno embarked on a solo career and worked with several bands, including Gogmagog, Battlezone, Praying Mantis, and Killers. Despite facing serious health challenges later in life, he continued to tour and perform.

In an interview earlier this year with The Metal Voice, Di'Anno reflected on his time with Iron Maiden, saying, “No one sounded like us, and that’s brilliant.” Following the news of his passing, figures from the heavy metal world, including Slash, Anthrax, and Exodus, have paid tribute to his distinctive vocals and his contributions to the band’s early years.

Blaze Bayley, another former Iron Maiden vocalist, spoke fondly of their shared tours, saying, “His voice and his music with Iron Maiden, as well as his solo projects, will endure.” Michael Paulsen of Volbeat, the Danish metal group, also honoured him, remarking on his “incredibly unique punkish voice,” and stating, “A legend has left us, but what he created will continue to live on.”

Iron Maiden paid tribute on X (formerly known as Twitter), noting that Di'Anno’s influence on their early sound “helped shape the path we have been travelling as a band for nearly five decades.” They further described his “pioneering spirit” as something that “will be fondly remembered not only by us, but by fans across the world.”

In the post, the band’s bassist Steve Harris expressed his sorrow, adding, “It’s heartbreaking that he’s gone. We were in touch not too long ago, exchanging messages about West Ham’s ups and downs. At least he was still performing until recently—that was something that gave him purpose, being out there whenever he could. We will all miss him dearly. Rest in peace, mate.”

The band concluded by expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect with Di'Anno a few years ago and extended their deepest sympathies to his family and close friends.